Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

Edexcel GCSE Fine Art

This exam board has been chosen as it allows for a direct transition into A Level Fine Art Courses.

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map Identity
Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map Insects
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map Grayson Perry
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map Natural Form
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map Still Life
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map Pop Art
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Colour and Painting
Year 7 Formal Elements and Mini Beasts
Year 7 Patterns in Nature
Year 8 Ceramics
Year 8 Pattern and Composition
Year 8 Portraiture
Year 9 Artists Who Play
Year 9 Perspective SOL
Year 9 Photo Montage Romare Bearden Black American artists
Year 9 Women in Art
Year 10 Surfaces
Year 11 Playful Portraits
Year 11 Work and Play

Home Learning

Homework is set once every two weeks for Key Stage 3 and aims primarily to develop skills in analysis and independent practice.

Supporting Progress

We understand that having access to materials and resources enables students to enjoy more independence in developing their ideas.

Key Stage 3: Lunchtime workshops are available

Key Stage 4: After school and lunchtime sessions are provided by the Art Department on a regular basis enabling students to access the facilities in their own time. 

Beyond the Curriculum

We organise trips to the Tate Modern and Tate Britain for KS4 students to enhance their experience of art first hand.

We participate in the E17 Art Trail offering workshops and exhibiting student work.

We currently have an artist-in-residence working with us called Tana West.  This enables students to experience the working processes of a practising artist first hand.  Tana’s work will be exhibited within the school enabling all students first hand access to current art work.

Interim Head of Faculty: Ms S Healy (Maternity cover)

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

At Key Stage 3 we explore observational drawing, sculpture, print-making, multi-media, conceptual art, craft and painting.  Our curriculum draws upon the influence of local artists such as William Morris and Grayson Perry, as well as the influential work of Louise Bourgeois, Damien Hirst, Picasso and Georgia O’Keeffe.  We keep our curriculum up-to-date by responding to key work that is on display in galleries in London and Walthamstow. The Art curriculum is focussed on developing our GREEN values, growth, resilience, energy, empathy and newness.

At Key Stage 4 students complete two key projects and their examination.  The first project enables students to develop key skills in a range of practices including observational drawing, painting, colography, lino-printing and etching.  Towards the end of the project students start to develop their own practice individually.  The second project based on Identity allows for students to develop their individual practice and prepares them for the final 10 hour examination. 

Students will learn to apply a creative approach to problem solving, consider and develop original ideas from initiation to realisation, analyse critically their own work and the work of others, express individual thoughts and choices confidently, take risks, experiment and learn from mistakes.

Assessment

Students will complete three projects in each year.  These will be assessed throughout the year to support student progression.

Students will complete three ten hour exams, which will be assessed formally. Continuous
one-to-one teacher support will enable students to develop their projects independently.   

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

OCR GCSE Computer Science J276

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 ICT
Year 8 ICT
Year 9 ICT
Year 10 BTEC Digital Technology
Year 10 GCSE Computer Scienc

Home Learning/Office 365

Key Stage 3: 30 minutes per week – Students set half termly homework projects by their teacher.  Details of homework can be found on Office 365.

Key Stage 4: one hour per week - resources found on Office 365.

Supporting Progress

Intervention/support takes place one evening per week. The day will vary according to subject and teacher.

Beyond the Curriculum

Each form group has two Digital Leaders who are responsible for supporting and developing the schools use of technology.  

Trips have been organised to the Science Museum, Thorpe Park, Legoland and the Gadget Show Exhibition.

Head of Faculty: Ms N Shafiq

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

At Walthamstow School for Girls all students have the opportunity to learn about technology and learn with technology.

At KS3 students cover the computing national curriculum, including:

• Unit 1 Think like a computer scientist
• Unit 2 Introduction to Computer Programming
• Unit 3 From then until now – What is a computer?
• Unit 4 Are you safe online?
• Unit 5 Creating Websites
• Unit 6 Human Computer Interaction
• Unit 7 Real World Models
• Unit 8 Representing images
• Unit 9 Programming Robots
• Unit 10 Binary and Networks
• Unit 11 Introduction to Python
• Unit 12 KS4 Sampler Units:
• Unit 13 Searching and Sorting Algorithm
• Unit 14 Representing Sound
• Unit 15 Computers Everywhere

At Key Stage 4 students who opt for GCSE Computer Science study:

• Algorithms
• Iteration
• Boolean Logic
• Data Types and Data Structures
• Searching and Sorting Algorithms
• Input and Output
• Problem Solving
• Binary & Hexadecimal
• Binary Representations
• Programming Languages
• Computer Systems: Hardware
• Computer Systems: Software
• Networks
• Computer Security
• Ethical, legal, cultural and environmental concerns

Assessment

Key Stage 3: Students complete an End of Unit Test upon the completion of each unit.

Key Stage 4: Students complete an End of Topic Test upon the completion of each Topic.

Students will also take a number of mock exams and complete their non-exam assessment (NEA).

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

AQA Design & Technology 8552

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Ball Bearing Game
Year 7 Desk Tidy
Year 7 Wooden Puzzle
Year 8 CAD CAM study aid
Year 8 Designer inspired Tea light
Year 8 Textiles, Emoji Project
Year 9 CAD CAM Mirror
Year 9 Decorative lightbox
Year 9 Metal Casting
Year 10 Common specialist technical principles
Year 10 Energy, materials, systems and devices
Year 10 Materials
Year 10 New and Emerging Technologies
Year 10 Timbers

Home Learning

Key Stage 3: Home Learning tasks may be research assignments to find out more about a particular product or theme; drawing and design tasks,  finding out more about a theoretical element that is being looked at in class for example energy use or sustainability.

Key Stage 4: students will be set exam style questions as well as needing to work on their design folders.

Supporting Progress

Staff are available after school for support and students are always welcome to come and speak to staff outside of lesson time.  During GSCE examinations staff run a range of supporting workshops to enable students to keep up with their work and get extra advice.

Learning resource materials are available on Office 365/Teams for all students to access at school or at home.

Beyond the Curriculum

Where possible educational visits and events are organised both in school and out.  Each year a group of students is taken to the V&A museum for their ‘Creative Quarter’ event. We have visited the Design Museum for workshops and exhibitions.  In school we have been able to invite students to take part in regular workshops run by a variety of visiting agencies.

Interim Head of Faculty: Ms S Healy (Maternity cover)

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

At Key Stage 3, students follow a course that enables them to work with a wide variety of materials and topics.  In order to make products they will work in wood, metal, plastics, textiles and electronics as well as paper and card for graphic products.  D&T themes that will be covered include: control technology with elements of coding; finding out about environmental considerations such as energy use and sustainability; famous designers and design movements.  They will use a variety of hand tools, machine tools and computer aided design and manufacturing techniques to make high quality products.

At Key Stage 4 students follow the AQA specification for Design & Technology.  This enables them to study different material areas before focussing on two for a Design and Make project in Y11.  As part of this course students will need to develop an understanding of energy, mechanisms, structures and environmental considerations.

Assessment

At Key Stage 3 students are assessed on the assignments they are working on.  These may be Design & Make tasks; Design only tasks; practical work or theory assignments.  Where appropriate, tests are used.

At Key Stage 4 students use exam questions and project based assignments.  Mock exams are used in the summer term of Y10 and the autumn term of Y11.

Faculty News & Information

Click here for the latest news from the Performing Arts Faculty

Exam Board and Syllabus

WJEC Drama GCSE

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Greek Theatre
Year 7 Lila
Year 7 The Wardrobe
Year 8 Forum Theatre
Year 8 Noughts & Crosses
Year 8 Shakespeare & the Supernatural
Year 9 DNA
Year 9 Women Who Changed the World
Year 10 Component 1
Year 10 Interpreting Theatre
Year 11 Component 2
Year 11 Interpreting Theatre

Home Learning

Key Stage 4 homework is set once a week.

Key Stage 3 homework is set three to four times per term.

Resources are kept in the Performing Arts section of the online shared student area.

Supporting Progress

Students are supported at GCSE with coursework tutorials and extra rehearsals outside lesson time, by arrangement with the class teacher.

Beyond the Curriculum

There are many opportunities provided for enrichment. At present we run the following:

Year 7:  Drama Club
Year 8:  Barbican Box Project
Year 9:  Old Vic Schools Club
Years 10 and 11:  Almeida Theatre Club

Biennially, we collaborate as a faculty to produce a whole-school musical production.  In between, we run smaller performance projects such as participating in the Shakespeare Schools Festival.

Head of Faculty: Ms E Cornford

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

At Key Stage 3, students learn about the history of theatre through the practical exploration of Greek drama, Commedia dell’arte, Shakespeare and Melodrama. Students work with a range of texts and in Year 9, study a full-length play. We also focus on developing improvisation and devising skills, using them to explore topics across the curriculum, and we investigate the work of practitioners such as Boal and Stanislavski.

At Key Stage 4, Unit 1 Devising Theatre is the focus for Year 10. We begin by exploring the work and ideas of Brecht and the genre of physical theatre. Students then move into groups to devise an original piece of drama in the style of either Brecht or physical theatre. Students are marked on their performance and on a coursework portfolio and written evaluation. In Year 11, the focus is on text work.  Unit 2 involves performing a scene from a published play. To prepare for the Unit 3 written exam, students study a set text from the perspectives of actor, designer and director and respond to a live theatre experience they have had during the course.

Assessment

Key Stage 3 assessments are completed termly. Students’ practical work and their written log books are taken into consideration when measuring progress.

At GCSE, Unit 1 is completed in the summer term of Year 10. Units 2 and 3 examination dates are set by WJEC and are completed in the spring and/or summer term of Year 11.

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

AQA GCSE Economics

Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 10 GCSE Economics

Home Learning

Resources are available on the school’s MLE in the Economics Section.

Supporting Progress

Intervention/support takes place one evening per week. The day will vary according to subject and teacher.

Beyond the Curriculum

Various trips including to the Bank of England .

Head of Faculty: Ms N Shafiq

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

The course looks at economic activity through the lens of consumers, producers, government and the workings of the global economy.  As students go through the course they’re presented with opportunities to focus on real-world issues.  Students should consider and reflect upon moral, ethical and sustainable issues that arise as a result of the impact of economic activity.

Students should use their economic knowledge and skills to investigate national and global economic situations and issues from the last 15 years.  Students are also made aware of the policies that governments have used to attempt to manage these situations and issues.

Students will develop quantitative skills relevant to the subject content.  They will develop the skills to make relevant calculations from economic data.  Students will also interpret data presented in the form of graphs and charts, and in so doing they will develop the skills to recognise the possible limitations of both quantitative and qualitative data.

Assessment

Two externally assessed exams taken at the end of the course (each worth 50% of the final grade).

• How markets work
• How the economy works

Faculty News & Information

Click here for the latest news from the English Faculty

Exam Board and Syllabus

WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature & AQA GCSE English Language

Year 7 Long Term Plan
Year 8 Long Term Plan
Year 9 Long Term Plan
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Poetry Learning Journey (Teacher 1)
Year 7 Poetry Learning Journey (Teacher 2)
Year 7 A Christmas Carol
Year 7 Gothic Writing
Year 7 Shakespeare - Writing a Play
Year 7 Shakespeare
Year 7 Non-Fiction Media
Year 7 Transactional Writing
Year 7 Windrush Child
Year 7 Let's Think in English
Year 8 Animal Farm
Year 8 World War 1 Poetry
Year 8 Victorian Literature
Year 8 Creative Writing Genre Study
Year 8 Travel writing - Transactional Writing
Year 8 Tempest
Year 9 A View from the Bridge
Year 9 Non-Fiction Feminism
Year 9 Macbeth
Year 9 Poetry
Year 9 Up for Debate
Year 9 Of Mice and Men
Year 10 An Inspector Calls
Year 10 Anthology Poetry
Year 10 Jane Eyre Part 1
Year 10 Jane Eyre Part 2
Year 10 Romantic Poetry
Year 10 EOY Exam Revision
Year 11 Romeo and Juliet
Year 11 Language Paper 2 and Dec. Mocks
Year 11 Literature Revision Spring Term
Year 11 Language Bootcamp
Year 11 Literature Revision Summer Term 1 (Final Revision Weeks)

Home Learning

Key Stage 3: homework is set once per week.  Students should spend a minimum of 30 minutes completing work. In addition, students should complete at least 20 minutes per day independent study or reading for pleasure. 

Key Stage 4: homework is set at least once per week.  Students should spend a minimum of 60 minutes completing work. In addition, students should complete an additional 60 minutes of independent study or reading for pleasure. Students can ask teachers to recommend reading or set additional tasks.

Supporting Progress

The English Faculty work closely with the Language & Learning Development and SENCO to ensure that students with specific needs receive any required support.

Revision booklets have been developed to provide support for each student on all topics covered at GCSE.

Exam boot-camp and “walking talking mocks” are held prior to Year 11 examinations.

Beyond the Curriculum

• Creative writing competitions
• Debate Club
• Global Alliance Book Club

Head of Faculty: Ms R Schaber

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

Key Stage Three

Year 7 is taught in mixed ability form classes. Year 8 and Year 9 are taught in mixed ability form groups, with a maximum of 30 students.  In Year 9 the cohort is taught in mixed ability groups of 30 students, but from a mixture of tutor groups.

Across Key Stage 3, students study Language and Literature to underpin the skills needed at Key Stage 4:

• Narrative Writing
• Pre 19^th Century Literature
• 20^th Century novel
• 20^th Century Drama
• Shakespeare
• Poetry from Other Cultures
• Non-Fiction -  Comprehension and Writing

Key Stage Four

Students study WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature and AQA English Language

Students in Years 10 and 11 continue to be taught in mixed-ability groups, although classes are reduced to approximately 24 students.

Throughout Year 10 and 11, students do timed practices and checkpoint assessments to enable the faculty to monitor progress and further support our students.

Assessment

KEY STAGE THREE

End of Unit assessment each half-term.

End of Year examinations (Year 9 only)(May/June).

KEY STAGE FOUR

Checkpoint assessments each half-term.

End of Year 10 examinations (June).

Year 11 mock examinations (November)

Year 11 timed practices for each component, will be completed regularly throughout the year.

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

Eduqas GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Nutrition and Diet
Year 8 Nutrition and Diet Continued
Year 9 Nutrition and Diet Continued

Home Learning

Home learning is planning and preparation for lessons, however students are encouraged to cook (and clean up!) at home – and especially to practice the skills learnt in curriculum time. Recipes can be found on Office 365/Teams.

Supporting Progress

Support sessions for KS4 students are arranged at lunchtimes and after school, leading up to the deadline for non-examined content submission as well as written exams.

All students have many opportunities to practice and develop their skills in the time leading up to final assessments.

Beyond the Curriculum

Educational visits have been organised to allow students to experience a range of culinary opportunities from afternoon tea to fine dining.

Interim Head of Faculty: Ms S Healy (Maternity cover)

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

At Key Stage 3, students develop the foundations of skills and knowledge required for independent and safe working.  Year 7, 8 & 9 students experience a variety of practical lessons, demonstrations and some theory.

Together we explore a range of healthy ingredients, equipment and cooking methods. Building on their skills and knowledge, students will be ready to create a variety of healthy balanced family meals.  Influenced by seasonal and sustainable ingredients, and beginning in our allotment here at Walthamstow School for Girls, our curriculum takes us on a round-the-world tour with a variety of topics from different countries.

GCSE Food Preparation and Nutrition offers a unique opportunity for candidates to develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required to cook and apply the principles of food science, nutrition and healthy eating.

Following this syllabus will encourage learners to cook and enable them to make informed decisions about food and nutrition in order to be able to feed themselves and others affordably and nutritiously now and later in life.

 It offers a balance between practical and theory work and is a suitable qualification for those who wish to progress to Further Education, but also offers valuable preparation for those entering the world of work.

Assessment

At Key Stage 3, students are assessed on the assignments they are working on.  Pupils will be assessed on the theory of food, nutrition and preparation as well as practical exercises.

At Key Stage 4, students use practice examination questions and project based assignments.  Mock examinations are used in the summer term of Year 10 and the autumn term of Year 11.

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

Edexcel GCSE French

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Term 1a
Year 7 Term 1b
Year 7 Term 2a
Year 8 Term 1a
Year 8 Term 1b
Year 8 Term 2a
Year 8 Term 1a Dual 1st Year
Year 8 Term 1b Dual 1st Year
Year 8 Term 2a Dual 1st Year
Year 8 Term 1a Dual 2nd Year
Year 8 Term 1b Dual 2nd Year
Year 8 Term 2a Dual 2nd Year
Year 9 Term 1a
Year 9 Term 1b
Year 9 Term 2a
Year 9 Term 1a Dual 2nd Year
Year 9 Term 1b Dual 2nd Year
Year 9 Term 2a Dual 2nd Year
Year 9 Term 1a Dual 3rd Year
Year 9 Term 1b Dual 3rd Year
Year 9 Term 2a Dual 3rd Year
Year 10 Term 1a
Year 10 Term 1b
Year 10 Term 2a
Year 11 Term 1a
Year 11 Term 1b
Year 11 Term 2a

Home Learning

KS3
Half termly vocabulary learning tasks set on Quizlet. Students have individual school logins.

KS4
Half termly vocabulary learning tasks set on Quizlet.

Students have individual school logins. Half termly speaking booklet preparation linked to the thematic context being studied.

Regular GCSE style practice tasks set by the class teacher.

Supporting Progress

One to one and group speaking sessions with our French Language Assistants.

Extra support for Key Stage 3 students is provided one lunch time per week for KS3 French students with our French Language Assistant

Extra support for Key Stage 3 students is provided one lunch time per week for KS4 French students with our French Language Assistant

GCSE intervention during Registration to support students before exams with a French teacher or our French Language Assistant

Beyond the Curriculum

French clubs at lunch time with our French Language Assistant to learn more about the culture in the French speaking world.

Day trips to French Crêperies

French cinema screenings

University trips

Theatre trips

Museum trips

Residential trips to France

Head of Faculty: Ms L Rafferty

Head of French: Miss A Flaender

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

Faculty information

Our vision: In the Languages Faculty we are courageous, confident, and excellent communicators. We aim to instill curiosity, open-mindedness and compassion for the world to be global citizens. As linguists we take responsibility for our learning journey, and we aspire to a lifelong love of languages and culture.

All Students in Year 7 study either French or Spanish. Students with strong reading skills are also introduced to the ancient world and carry out an independent ancient world research project. In years 8 and 9 students build on this foundation, learning about the ancient world in more depth as well as meeting the basics of the Latin language. Able linguists are given the opportunity to study both French and Spanish from Year 8. All three languages are offered at GCSE, and a very high percentage of our students opt to continue with their language in KS4. Group sizes are usually between 20 and 25.

We are fortunate to have French and Spanish language assistants each year and our students benefit enormously from working with them. Many other extra-curricular activities are organised such as lunchtime language clubs and lunchtime support.

Assessment

At Key Stage 3, students are assessed in each of the four key skills; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in both Formative and Summative Assessments.

At Key Stage 4, students are assessed in each of the four key skills; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in both Formative and Summative Assessments. In both Year 10 and Year 11 students will complete a full mock paper assessing all four skills to prepare them for the final exam at the end of Year 11.

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

WJEC Eduqas GCSE Latin

Learning Journeys

Year 7 AWPQ Terms 2a & b
Year 7 AWPQ Terms 3a & b
Year 8 Amarantus Term 1a & b
Year 8 Amarantus Term 2a & b
Year 9 Latin - Term 1
Year 9 Latin - Term 2
Year 10 Latin - Term 1a
Year 10 Latin - Term 1b
Year 10 Latin - Term 2a
Year 10 Latin - Term 2b
Year 10 Latin - Term 3a
Year 11 Latin - Term 1a
Year 11 Latin - Term 1b
Year 11 Latin - Term 2a
Year 11 Latin - Term 2b
Year 11 Latin - Term 3a

Home Learning

Students have access to the Suburani textbook’s interactive online resources. These include an online textbook, a vocab tester that they can use to revise for fortnightly vocab tests at KS4, as well as activities to build their grammar and translation skills.

The Cambridge Schools Classics Project and CSCP’s Amarantus course also have extensive websites packed with resources that support our learning in school.

Beyond Suburani, students are recommended to use the app’s Quizlet & Memrise which is great for learning the Latin vocabulary.

Supporting Progress

Latin support is available every Tuesday after-school in F25. Should a student need some targeted 1:1 support, this is held on Friday lunchtimes, also in F25.

When final exams are approaching, additional support sessions are held during the holiday breaks.

Beyond the Curriculum

In Year 10 or 11, students are given the opportunity to visit Rome and Ostia, in Italy.

In KS3, students visit Roman sites and museums in London and beyond. We also hold enrichment events in school, such as the Greek Myth Cafe.

Latin teacher: Ms O Cheetham

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

Faculty information

Our vision: In the Languages Faculty we are courageous, confident, and excellent communicators. We aim to instil curiosity, open-mindedness and compassion for the world to be global citizens. As linguists we take responsibility for our learning journey, and we aspire to a lifelong love of languages and culture.

In Latin at KS3, students learn about the language’s historical and cultural context. They develop independent research, literacy and critical thinking skills, as well as delving into big questions from life in ancient Rome. At KS4, students will learn how to understand and translate Latin text. In addition they will read and interpret Latin literature, as well as learning about daily life in the Roman world and its links to our modern world. Students are supported in their learning using materials and resources developed by the Suburani programme and the Cambridge Schools Classics Project. Students do not need to have any previous experience of learning Latin and all students are invited to choose it.

Assessment

At KS4 Students are assessed every half term by sitting a written examination focused on the Language, Literature and Roman Civilisation study that they have completed during that half term. Students’ knowledge of Latin vocabulary is also tested weekly.

The final assessment in Year 11 comprises of three written examinations:

Component 1: Latin Language. Written Examination: 1 hour 30 minutes - 50% of qualification.

Section A: A range of short comprehension questions testing understanding of the storyline (55% of the marks for this component). Translation of a passage from Latin into English, with a gradation of difficulty (35% of the marks for this component).

Section B: EITHER translation from English into Latin OR the permitted alternative i.e. recognise, analyse and explain items of syntax and accidence (10% of the marks for this component).

Component 2: Latin Literature and Sources (Themes). Written examination: I hour 15 minutes - 30% of qualification

A prescription of Latin literature, both prose and verse, on a theme, together with prescribed ancient source materials on the same theme. A choice of one of two themes is offered e.g. Love and Marriage or Heroes and Villains. This is an open book assessment and students will answer questions on the resources provided.

Component 3B: Roman Civilisation. Written Examination: 1 hour - 20% of qualification

A prescribed topic of Roman Civilisation. A choice of one of two topics is offered e.g. Roman Entertainment and Leisure or Religion in the Roman World. Students will answer questions relating to one of the prescribed topics.

Faculty News & Information

Click here for the latest news from the Maths Faculty

Exam Board and Syllabus

All students at Walthamstow School for Girls study Mathematics for 5 years.  At the end of Year 11 students sit the Edexcel (9 to 1) GCSE Mathematics at either the Foundation or Higher level.  Students are assessed throughout the course by their teachers.  There are no controlled assignments and there are three 1½ hour external exams at the end of Year 11.  Two of these are calculator papers and one is a non-calculator paper.

Each Key Stage 3 Maths class (set) has it's own Skills & Knowledge Map, so please contact your daughter's Maths teacher directly if you would like a copy of this.
Key Stage 4 Foundation Long Term Plan
Key Stage 4 Higher Long Term Plan
Year 11 Mathematics Information

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Autumn Term
Year 7 Spring Term
Year 7 Summer Term
Year 8 Autumn Term
Year 8 Spring Term
Year 8 Summer Term
Year 9
Year 10
Year 11

Home Learning

Students receive regular homework which could be a variety of tasks which is set from textbooks, worksheets, MyMaths or our managed learning environment - Fronter.

Revision guides and workbooks for KS4 students can be bought from Student Services to support learning at home.  These can be used for independent learning or for extra homework and revision. 

Practice books which complement the textbooks used in class are also provided for homework and independent study.

Students also have a login for ‘Kerboodle’, which has on-line versions of the text books and practice books for both Key Stage 3 and 4.  These books contain videos of mathematical explanations as well as links to MyMaths for extra private study.

The MLE has a wealth of resources that can support learning for all year groups.  There are links to websites which support all chapters of the textbooks used in lessons, revision materials for Key Stage 4 including Mathswatch (a series of short video lessons and associated worksheets), Numeracy Passport (for practice of basic numeracy skills) and Boardworks (a slide show presentation of the whole curriculum).  There are also past examination papers with worked solutions and various PiXL materials, including ‘Walking Talking Papers’.  There are also links to more fun maths activities.

Key Stage 4 students also have access to the PiXL Maths App, which can be used on phones, tablets and PCs.

Supporting Progress

Maths Support takes place every Tuesday 3.30 – 4.30 and is open to all students.  Maths staff are available to give help with homework or classwork and students are encouraged to bring along anything they need help with.  We also offer intervention support for GCSE students where necessary, in the form of 1-1 tutoring, 3-1 maths mentoring and after school revision classes.

Beyond the Curriculum

During Black History Month we teach all of
Year 7 how to play the African board game Oware and for LGBT History month we ask students to research the work of Alan Turing and work on various code breaking activities.  We have in the past invited Matt Parker in to deliver his lecture on ‘The Hidden Maths in the Simpsons’ to our Key Stage 3 students and regularly invite other speakers in to give fascinating lectures on topics such as Maths and Magic, Murderous Maths, The Enigma Challenge, Learning Maths through Paper Folding and Shapes & Smoke rings.  Each year we celebrate Pi Day with several activities, including a competition to learn Pi to the most number of decimal places (as well as eating some pies!).

The Cambridge Roadshow has regularly visited the school and provide sessions on problem and puzzle solving.

Students take part annually in the UK Maths Trust Junior, Intermediate and Team Maths Challenge.  Several students every year attend the Saturday Royal Institute Maths Master Classes, Maths Masterclasses at Queen Mary University and many of our Year 11 students attend Sir George Monoux College to study the free-standing Maths Qualification, ‘Additional Maths’.

Head of Faculty: Ms A Blencowe

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

The Mathematics Faculty are a team of very experienced and enthusiastic specialist teachers.  Our curriculum is accessible to all learners in a way that stretches them to their full potential and gives them the opportunity to enjoy maths.  Our GCSE results are always above the National Average.

We endeavour to ensure that students acquire the basic skills and knowledge needed for everyday life, developing a variety of techniques to use maths as a tool.  Students learn at a level suitable to their needs allowing them to develop confidence in their mathematical ability.

Students learn maths through a variety of approaches including exposition, investigation, discussion, practical work and consolidation.  We give opportunities for learning independently, learning collaboratively within pairs or groups and for discussing maths with each other.  Students are encouraged to develop their ability to think logically and coherently through the experience of mathematical investigation and problem solving.  We encourage good working habits including working systematically, checking that results are sensible and the correction of errors. 

Excellent use is made of ICT resources to support learning and we have a wide range of maths software on our school network for learners to access. 

We stretch our more able students through extension and curriculum enrichment, and provide them with many opportunities to broaden and deepen their mathematical understanding.  We favour enrichment over acceleration as research suggests that this is of much greater benefit to students.

Key Stage 3

Students are taught in mixed ability classes of approximately 23 for the first term of Year 7.  Students who have not met the required standard at the end of Primary school are taught in a separate maths group, with the aim to ‘catch them up’ to the rest of their cohort.  At the start of the spring term the Year 7 classes are then set into groups at 4 levels of ability.  At the start of year 8, all 8 maths classes are taught at the same time, so we are able to create 8 ability groups.  Over each fortnight students have 7 hours of maths lessons in each of year 7, 8 and 9.  We currently use a mix of SMP Interact books and the new KS3 Oxford MyMaths text books.

Key Stage 4

With the introduction of the new 9 to 1 GCSE we have decided to begin studying the GCSE course in the spring term of Year 9.  Year 10 and 11 students also now have an increased amount of time to study maths, each year group having 9 lessons each fortnight.  Key Stage 4 students also use a mixture of SMP interact and the new Oxford MyMaths textbooks.

Assessment

Students are assessed on an ongoing basis throughout the year to make sure that they are making the expected progress.  Review Tests are used for assessment.  These usually take place after 4 or 5 chapters or topics.  If it is felt that a student would make more progress in a different set, then she will change class.  Students also complete End of Year Tests at the end of Years 8, 9 and 10.  From the end of Year 9 onward, students also sit GCSE style examinations and during Year 11 they sit ‘mock’ papers on four different occasions throughout the year.

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Keyboard Skills
Year 7 Pop Music
Year 7 Rhythm
Year 7 The Four Seasons
Year 7 Voices
Year 8 Blues
Year 8 Film Music
Year 8 Krishna and the King of the Snakes
Year 8 Reggae
Year 9 4 Chord Compositions
Year 9 Blood Brothers
Year 9 Disco
Year 10 Composition
Year 10 Ensemble Performance
Year 10 Sibelius Arrangement
Year 10 Solo Performance
Year 10 Western Classical Tradition
Year 11 Ensemble Performance

Home Learning

Homework is occasionally set in Key Stage 3 and usually set each week at GCSE level.  Students will be directed to a variety of locations to access resources.

Supporting Progress

At Key Stage 3, support is given to students who are not making the expected progress during lesson time.  This may be in the form of group or differentiated work.

At GCSE level those students identified as at risk of not making the expected progress are usually given one to one support outside of lesson time.

Beyond the Curriculum

Music has a vibrant extra-curricular offer.  This includes a steel band in each year group (entry by audition in Year 7), a choir and an orchestra.

There are three big concerts each year: a Christmas Carol Concert, a Steel Band concert and a Summer concert.  In addition to these the Music Department takes part in the annual Music for Youth Festival, regularly travelling to Birmingham for the National Festival in July.  In 2015 the Year 11 Steel Band performed at the Music for Youth Schools Prom, at the Albert Hall.

The department also participates in the Waltham Forest Battle of The Bands competition, which they won in 2016, the Waltham Forest Civic Carol Concert and the Waltham Forest Music Service Summer Music Festival.

Head of Faculty: Ms E Cornford
Head of Music: Ms H Bradshaw

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

In Key Stage 3 Music, the curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum, engage students and prepare them for further study at GCSE level.  Units studied at Key Stage 3 include: Whole Class Steel Band Performance, Question and Answer, Songwriting, Samba, Composing Using Technology and Rock Band.

At GCSE we follow the AQA GCSE Music syllabus.  The course breakdown is as follows:

Component 1: Understanding music 40%

• Listening
• Contextual Understanding

Examination with listening exercises and written questions using excerpts of music.

Component 2: Performing music 30%

• Music performance

As an instrumentalist and/or vocalist and/or via technology:

Performance 1: solo performance

Performance 2: ensemble performance

Component 2: Composing music 30%

• Composition

Composition 1: composition to a brief

Composition 2: free composition

Assessment

Assessment at Key Stage 3 takes the form of practical work and written listening exercises.

Assessment at GCSE is outlined in the course breakdown.

Faculty News & Information

Click here for the latest news from the Performing Arts Faculty

Exam Board and Syllabus

The exam board for GCSE PE is AQA.

Learning Journeys

Year 10 and 11 GCSE Learning Journeys
Unit 1+2 learning journey with assessment
Unit 3 learning journey with assessment
Unit 4 learning journey with assessment
Unit 5 a,b,c learning journey with assessment
Unit 6 learning journey with assessment

Year 7 Learning Journeys
Year 7 Athletics learning journey
Year 7 Cricket learning journey 
Year 7 Dance learning journey
Year 7 Gymnastics learning journey
Year 7 Invasion Games learning journey
Year 7 Rounders learning journey

Year 8 Learning Journeys
Year 8 Athletics learning journey
Year 8 Cricket learning journey
Year 8 Dance learning journey
Year 8 Invasion Games learning journey
Year 8 Rounders learning journey
Year 8 Trampolining learning journey

Year 9 Learning Journeys
Year 9 Cricket learning journey 
Year 9 Fitness learning journey
Year 9 Invasion Games learning journey
Year 9 Rounders learning journey 
Year 9 Trampolining learning journey

Year 7 Skills and Knowledge Maps
Dance Year 7
Gymnastics Year 7
OAA Year 7
Team Sports Year 7

Year 8 Skills and Knowledge Maps
Dance Year 8
OAA Year 8
Team Sports Year 8
Trampolining Year 8

Year 9 Skills and Knowledge Maps
Fitness Year 9
OAA Year 9
Team Sports Year 9
Trampolining Year 9

Home Learning

GCSE students are assigned homework tasks designed to complement their studies. These tasks are directly aligned with the AQA GCSE PE textbook and reinforce the content covered in their theory lessons. 

Supporting Progress

Extra curricular activities are open to all years and take place at lunchtimes and after school every day of the week.  Some of the sports we offer are: football, basketball, netball, roller- skating, volleyball, trampolining, handball, tag rugby, rounders, athletics, cricket and table tennis.

GCSE interventions take place after school and at lunchtimes.

Beyond the Curriculum

Each half term our extra curricular activities change. Please click here to see our current activities.

Head of Faculty: Ms E Cornford
Head of PE: Ms L Childs

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

The Curriculum

PE is studied as a core subject throughout Years 7-11.  Students are introduced to a range of sporting activities:

Year 7: Orienteering, Gymnastics, Netball, Dance, Tag Rugby, Football, Athletics, Rounders and Cricket.

Year 8: Orienteering, Basketball, Netball, Handball, Trampolining, Dance, Athletics, Rounders and Cricket.

Year 9: Orienteering, Volleyball, Netball, Trampolining, Basketball, Fitness, Handball, Rounders and Cricket.

Year 10 Core PE:  students can pick from the following options:

Sports Hall sports: Netball, Basketball, Volleyball, Football, Rounders, cricket, Handball, Trampolining.

Boxing/self-defence: We have an external boxing instructor come in for these sessions.

Sports leaders: In Year 10 Students are given training by members of the PE department on how to teach primary school children sport.  They then put this training into action, working with children in local primary schools.  Students complete this course over one academic year.

Year 11 Core PE: Year 11 students pick three options from the following activities. Each term they can change activity:

Self-defence/boxing (external qualified instructor)

Feel Good centre gym

Sports hall activities - including basketball, netball, roller skating, trampolining, badminton and table tennis, Handball, Football.

GCSE PE

GCSE PE is made up of three different main areas. They are:

Non- Examined assessment (practical). (30%) Students pick an individual activity, a team activity and a third activity from either the team or individual list.

Analysis and evaluation task. (10%)

Students can submit this as a piece of written coursework or through a presentation.

Examined assessment (theory). (60%)

This is split into two exams, 1 hour and 15 minutes each.

The topics examined are:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Structure and function of the cardio-respiratory system
• Anaerobic and aerobic systems
• Movement analysis
• Physical training
• Sports Psychology
• Socio-cultural influences
• Commercialisation of physical activity in sport
• Ethical issues
• Health and fitness
• Use of data

Faculty News & Information

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Exam Board and Syllabus

AQA

Year 7 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 8 Skills & Knowledge Map
Year 9 Long Term Plan
Year 10 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Long Term Plan
Year 11 Science Information

Learning Journeys Year 7&8

Year 7A
Year 7B
Year 7C
Year 7D
Year 7E
Year 7F
Year 7G
Year 7H
Year 7I
Year 7J
Year 7K
Year 7L
Year 8A
Year 8B
Year 8C
Year 8D
Year 8E
Year 8F
Year 8G
Year 8H
Year 8J

Learning Journeys Physics GCSE Combined

P1
P2
P3
P4
P5a
P5b
P6
P7

Learning Journeys Physics GCSE Triple

P1
P2
P3
P4
P5a
P5b
P6
P7
P8

Learning Journeys Chemistry GCSE

C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
C6a
C6b
C7a
C7b
C8a
C8b
C9
C10

Learning Journeys Biology GCSE

B1a
B1b
B2
B3
B4

The Curriculum

Key Stage 3 Science is linked to the Exploring Science schemes of work. Students are taught scientific content for Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as valuable scientific skills, such as producing and analysing line graphs and looking at experimental variables.

Scientific experiments are used to further explain concepts as well as bring aspects of Science to life.

At Key Stage 4, students will be taught Combined Science or Separate Science GCSEs.  Both courses are similar in that they cover all aspects of Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  However, Combined Science results in two GCSE`s for Science whereas Separate Science results in a GCSE each for Biology, Chemistry and Physics.  These courses involve compulsory experiments that students may be tested on in their final GCSE`s.

Assessment

At Key Stage 3 there are end of term tests for Years 7, 8 and 9 which inform data collections in order to monitor progress.  There is an end of Year examination.

At Key Stage 4 there are end of chapter tests following each unit for both Combined and Separate Science which inform data collections.  At the end of Year 10 there will be three mocks exams for both Combined and Separate Science in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

For the final GCSEs Combined Science students will sit six 1h 15 min papers and Separate Science will sit six 1h 45 min papers.  Both courses are assessed through terminal examinations with no controlled assessments.

Home Learning

Homework is set in line with the school homework timetable.

Resources for both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4 are available on the school MLE, including past paper questions and criteria sheets.

Supporting Progress

• Science support sessions each Thursday lunchtime
• After school revision sessions
• Revision sessions during Easter
• Exam questions analysis
• Targeted homework
• “6 mark question” workshops

Beyond the Curriculum

• Zoofari in-school event
• Women in Physics: STEM talk given at school
• Explorer Dome in-school event
• Science Week drama workshops
• Creative Quarter trip to Imperial College
• GCSE Science in Action trip to University of London

Head of Faculty: Mr C Kerr

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

Faculty News & Information

Click here for the latest news from the Languages Faculty

Exam Board and Syllabus

Edexcel GCSE Spanish

Learning Journeys

Year 7 Spanish - Term 1a
Year 7 Spanish - Term 1b
Year 7 Spanish - Term 2a
Year 8 Spanish - Term 1a
Year 8 Spanish - Term 1b
Year 8 Spanish - Term 2a
Year 8 Dual First year Spanish - Term 1a
Year 8 Dual First year Spanish - Term 1b
Year 8 Dual First year Spanish - Term 2a
Year 8 Dual Second year Spanish - Term 1a
Year 8 Dual Second year Spanish - Term 1b
Year 8 Dual Second year Spanish - Term 2a
Year 9 Spanish - Term 1a
Year 9 Spanish - Term 1b
Year 9 Spanish - Term 2a
Year 9 Dual Second Year Spanish - Term 1a
Year 9 Dual Second Year Spanish - Term 1b
Year 9 Dual Second Year Spanish - Term 2a
Year 9 Dual Third Year Spanish - Term 1a
Year 9 Dual Third Year Spanish - Term 1b
Year 9 Dual Third Year Spanish - Term 2a
Year 10 Spanish - Term 1a
Year 10 Spanish - Term 1b
Year 10 Spanish - Term 2a
Year 11 Spanish - Term 1a 
Year 11 Spanish - Term 1b
Year 11 Spanish - Term 2a 

Home Learning

KS3
Half termly vocabulary learning tasks set on Quizlet. Students have individual school logins.

KS4
Half termly vocabulary learning tasks set on Quizlet. 

Students have individual school logins. Half termly speaking booklet preparation linked to the thematic context being studied. 

Regular GCSE style practice tasks set by the class teacher. 

Supporting Progress

One to one and group speaking sessions with our Spanish Language Assistants. 

Extra support for Key Stage 3 students is provided one lunch time per week for KS3 Spanish students with our Spanish Language Assistant 

Extra support for Key Stage 3 students is provided one lunch time per week for KS4 Spanish students with our Spanish Language Assistant 

GCSE intervention during Registration to support students before exams with a Spanish teacher or our Spanish Language Assistant 

Beyond the Curriculum

Spanish clubs at lunch time with our Spanish Language Assistant to learn more about the culture in the Spanish speaking world. 

Days trips to a Spanish Tapas Restaurant 

Spanish cinema screenings 

University trips 

Theatre trips 

Museum trips 

Residential trips to Spanish 

Head of Faculty: Ms L Rafferty

Click here to contact our staff

Staff can be contacted via info@wsfg.waltham.sch.uk

Faculty Information

Our vision:
In the Languages Faculty we are courageous, confident, and excellent communicators. We aim to instil curiosity, open-mindedness and compassion for the world to be global citizens. As linguists we take responsibility for our learning journey, and we aspire to a lifelong love of languages and culture.  

All Students in Year 7 study either French or Spanish. Students with strong reading skills are also introduced to the ancient world and carry out an independent ancient world research project. In years 8 and 9 students build on this foundation, learning about the ancient world in more depth as well as meeting the basics of the Latin language. Able linguists are given the opportunity to study both French and Spanish from Year 8. All three languages are offered at GCSE, and a very high percentage of our students opt to continue with their language in KS4. Group sizes are usually between 20 and 25.

We are fortunate to have French and Spanish language assistants each year and our students benefit enormously from working with them. Many other extra-curricular activities are organised such as lunch-time language clubs and lunch-time support. 

Assessment

At Key Stage 3, students are assessed in each of the four key skills; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in both Formative and Summative Assessments.  

At Key Stage 4, students are assessed in each of the four key skills; Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing in both Formative and Summative Assessments. In both Year 10 and Year 11 students will complete a full mock paper assessing all four skills to prepare them for the final exam at the end of Year 11.